Oscillating fish planer

ABSTRACT

A canted U-configuration wire bridle has the legs thereof extended through openings in a dished planer body, the planer held on the wire bridle by suitable means secured to the portions of the legs extending through the planer body. The openings are located on the midline of the body, and are substantially larger than the legs extending therethrough. A lead weight is secured to the lower one of the legs of the bridle. A hook line or lure is secured to the top of the planer body. A trolling or fishing line is slidably attached for movement along the base of the U of the wire bridle. If desired, an elongated rod is pivotally secured to the lower end of the base of the wire bridle and releasably attached to the upper end thereof. The trolling or fishing line is then slidably attached for movement along the elongated rod. Pulling on the trolling line with a predetermined force releases the rod and allows the fish planer to rise to the surface along with the hook or lure.

United States Patent Saia 1 Sept. 4, 1973 OSCILLATING FISH PLANERPrimary ExaminerLouis G. Mancene e Assistant Examiner-James H. Czerwonky[76] inventor: Carmen Sara, PO. Box 1295,

Bellingham wash 98225 Attorney-Seed, Berry 8c Dowrey [22] Filed: Sept.24, 1971 [57] ABSTRACT [2H Appl' l83457 A canted U configuration wirebridle has the legs thereof extended through openings in a dished planer[52] US. Cl 43/43.]3, 43/4204, 43/4249 body, the planer held on the wirebridle by suitable [51] Int. Cl. A0lk 91/04, AOlk 95/00 means secured tothe portions of the legs extending [58] Field of Search 43/43.13, 43.12,through the planer body..The openings arelocated on 43/4204, 42.49, 42.5the midline of the body, and are substantially larger than the legsextending therethrough. A lead weight is [56] References Cited securedto the lower one of the legs of the bridle. A UNITED STATES PATENTS hookline or lure is secured to the top of the planer body. A trolling orfishing line is slidably attached for movement along the base of the Uof the wire bridle. 3:466:787 9/1969 Collins 43/4313 If desired, anelongated rod is P y Secured "H119 2,71 32 9 955 Minnie 3, lower end ofthe base of the wire bridle and releasably 3,570,!67 3/1971 Smith43/43.l3 x attached to the upper end thereof. The trolling or fish-2,220,302 11/1940 Thorne 43/43.]3 ing line is then slidably attachedlfor movement along 2,273,209 2/1942 Louthan 43/43. the elongated rod.Pulling on the trolling line with at 21932316 4/1960 wmdnckm 43/42-04 Xpredetermined force releases the rod and allows the 3,583,089 6/l97lScarbro 43/43.13

fish planer to rise to the surface along with the hook or lure.

10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Pmmtoser 4m aJssgsss JFJIGO 11 OSC ILLATINGFISH PLANER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention Thisinvention relates to an oscillating planer for use in trolling wherefishing is generally done at consider able depth.

2. Prior Art Relating to the Disclosure Numerous planers are known forcarrying the hook line or lure during trolling to a depth where the fishcan be found. Such fish planers are designed to trip when the fishstrikes and thus allow the fish to be easily brought to the surface.Typical of such fish planers are those described and illustrated in U.S.Pat. Nos. 2,220,302; 2,247,583; 2,273,209; 2,789,386; 3,447,255; and3,466,787.

SUMMARY oF THE INVENTION ing a hook line to the planer body near itsupper end,

(4) ballast means beneath the forward portion of the planer body, and(5) means connecting a trolling line to the bridle, the trolling lineslidable along a portion of a length of the bridle. The planer device isadapted, when a predetermined pull is exerted on the lure or hook line,to swing the planer body from a downwardly and forwardly inclinedposition to an upwardly and backwardly inclined position for recovery ofthe fish.

The subjects of this invention are: (l) to provide a trolling devicewhich oscillates as it is pulled through the water and thus attractsfish; (2) to provide a trolling device device which can be tripped bythe fisherman at any desired time to cause the device to ascend to thesurface of the water; (3) to provide a trolling device wherein theplaner body therof is loosely-mounted to a wire bridle for oscillationrelative thereto; and (4) to provide a trolling device having a two wayrelease action.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of thetrolling device, the phantom lines illustrating the manner in which thedevice oscillates as it is pulled through the water;

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the trolling device introlling position and illustrating the manner of attachment of theplaner body to the wire bridle;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the trolling device in the position assumedwhen a fish strikes the hook line; and

FIG. 4 is a side view of the trolling device in the position assumedwhen the fisherman, by exerting a predetermined amount of force on thetrolling line, trips the release mechanism.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. I, a bridle10 in the form of a canted letter U has a base 11 and legs 12 and 13extending outwardly from the base. A planar body 14 of greater lengththan width is loosely secured to the legs of the bridle so that it isfree to oscillate relative thereto. The legs 12 and 13 extend throughopenings l5 and 16 in the planer body, the openings being larger thanthe cross-sectional diameter of the legs. The openings are preferablyfitted with elastomeric grommets 17. The openings are preferably locatedalong a midline 29 running the length of the planer body midway of thewidth thereof. The upper terminating edge of a portion of the sideterminating edges of the planer body are preferably curved as shown toform flange portions 14a and 14b. Action of the water against the planerbody, as It is pulled through the water, causes the planer body tooscillate back and forth between themsitions shown in phantom in FIG. I.

The planer body is loosely attached to the legs of the bridle bysuitable retaining means such as the spherical elements 18 and I9slipped over the portions of the legs extending through the planer body,the elements retained on the legs by flattening the terminal edges ofthe legs 12 and 13. The arcuate surface of the spherical elementsagainst which the planer body rests as it is pulled through water in thetrolling position illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 provides a surface aboutwhich the planer body pivots for oscillation.

A heavy weight 20 of lead or other suitable material is secured over thelower leg 13 as illustrated. Preferably, the portion of the weightadjacent to planer body has a protruding bump 21 which contacts thefront surface of the planer body near the lower end thereof. The

bump 21 aids in holding the planer body against the spherical elements18 and I9 and also provides a pivot point about which the planer bodyoscillates.

A release or tripping mechanism may be provided so that the fishermanmay, at any desired time, trip the trolling device by pulling on thetrolling line with a predetermined force to allow the device and hook toascend to the surface. The release mechanism is adjustable as to theamount of force required to effect re lease. The release mechanismcomprises an elongated rod 22 pivotally. secured to the lower end of thebase ll of the bridle 10. The upper end of the rod 22 is re leasablysecured near the upper end of the base 11 in the manner illustrated orbyother suitable means. As illustrated a portion 23 of the base 11 nearthe upper end is pinched together. The upper terminal end of rod 22 iscurved to form a U-shaped end which engages or snaps between thepinched-together part of the base 11. The amount of force necessary torelease rod 22 is adjusted by adjusting the space 24 between thepinched-together portions of base 11.

A fishing or trolling line may be secured to the base 11 of the bridleor to the elongated rod 22 making up a part of the release mechanismjust described. The trolling line is preferably slidably attached toeither the rod 22 or base 11 by a ring 26 secured to the end of the line25 by swivel 27. The trolling line slides between a trolling positionillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 to the strike position illustrated by FIG.3 and the release position illustrated by FIG. 4. The upper portion ofrod 22 has an outwardly curved jog 22a: therein which prevents the ring26 from sliding down the rod when slack occurs in the trolling orfishing line 25.

The lure or hook line 28 is attached to the planer body at or near theupper end thereof.

When the trolling device of this invention is pulled through the waterin the position illustrated by FIGS. 1 and 2 the pressure of the wateragainst the downwardly and forwardly inclined planer body 14 causes itto oscillate about its midline 29 as well as between the positions shownin phantom in FIG. 1. The planer body may be made of any suitablematerial but is preferably cut from a sheet of planer, non-corrosivematerial provided with a highly reflective surface for attracting fish.Additionally the action of water results in submersion of the deviceuntil a level is reached where the action of the planer body is overcomeby the upward pull of the trolling line 25. The trolling devicemaintains this level until a fish strikes exerting a force on the hookline 28 or the fisherman trips the release mechanism to raise thetrolling device to the surfaced. If a fish strikes the weight of thefish is transferred through the line 28 to the upper portion of theplaner body 14 causing it to rotate about its axis from the downward andforwardly inclined position to an upward and rearwardly inclinedposition as shown in FIG. 3. In this position the planer body willeffect raising of the hook line to assist in surfacing the fish. At thesame time the ring 26 slides down the rod 22 to the point of pivotalconnection of the rod 22 to base 11. If a fish should escape the planerbody can be re-set to the trolling position illustrated by FIGS. 1 and 2by paying out sufficient line until it is slack, thereby allowing ring26 to slide up rod 22 to lodge in the outwardly curved jog 22a. if thefisherman desires to pull in his line at any time, a jerk ofpredetermined force on the trolling line 25 will disengage rod 22allowing the planer body to assume the position illustrated in FIG. 4and causing the trolling device and hook to rise to the surface.

The area and configuration of the planer body, the

I amount of weight attached to the trolling device and sive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An oscillating trolling device comprising:

a rigid, elongated bridle extending the lengthwise direction of thetrolling device connectable to a trolling line,

a planer body having openings along its midline and being disposedbeneath the bridle, the end portions of said bridle extendingthroughsaid openings and being loosely connected thereto, said openingsbeing substantially larger than the cross-sectional area of said endportions, for oscillation in a plane essentially transverse to thedirection of pull of the trolling device through the water,

means for connecting a hook line to the planer body at essentially theupper end thereof,

ballast means secured to the trolling device near one end thereof, and

release means slidably connecting a trolling line to the bridle, thetrolling device adapted, when a predetermined pull is exerted on a hookline, to swing the planer body from a downwardly and forwardly inclinedposition to an upwardly and rearwardly inclined position as saidtrolling lines slides along said release means.

2. The trolling device of claim 1 wherein the planer body is curved atthe upper terminating edge thereof.

3. The trolling device of claim 1 wherein the bridle includes releasemeans so that when a predetermined pull is exerted on a trolling line,the planer body swings to an upwardly inclined position causing thetrolling device and hook line to ascend to the surface of the water.

4. The trolling device of claim 1 wherein the bridle is an elongated rodin the form of a canted letter U having a base portion and wherein saidend portions comprise integral extending legs with the legs thereofextending through openings along the midline of the planer body, andmeans loosely retaining the planer body to the legs of the bridle.

5. The trolling device of claim 4 wherein the ballast means is securedto one leg of the bridle below the cenrod of the release means pivotallyattached to said U- shaped rod at one end and releasably attached tosaid U-shaped rod at the other end, the trolling means attached to theelongated rod of the release means for slidable movement therealong.

7. The trolling device of claim 2 wherein the planer body has upwardlycurved side edges.

8. An oscillating trolling device comprising:

an elongated rod rigid in the form of a canted letter U having a baseportion and integral extending legs; two openings therein along amidline extending the length of the body for loosely receiving the legsof the U-shaped rod therethrough, said openings being substantiallylarger than the crosssectional area of said legs so that when the planerbody is pulled through the water in a downwardly and forwardly inclinedposition, it is free to oscillate about the points of pivotal connectionto the bridle;

means loosely retaining the planer body to the legs of the rod;

means connecting a hook line to the planer body at the upper endthereof;

ballast means secured to one leg of the U-shaped rod below the center ofgravity of the device; and means connecting a trolling line to the rodfor slidable movement along the base portion of the elongated rod, theplaner body (1) in trolling position assuming a downwardly and forwardlyinclined position causing the planer to be drawn downwardly in the waterto lower the fishing lure to a desired depth, and (2) in strike positionwherein the weight of the fish is on the hook line assuming an upwardlyand forwardly inclined position causing the trolling device and the lureto ascend to the surface.

9. The trolling device of claim 8 wherein the upper terminating edges ofthe planer body are dished.

10. The trolling device of claim 8 including a release mechanismcomprising an elongated rod essentially paralleling the base portion ofthe U-shaped rod, the elongated rod of the release means pivotallyattached to said U-shaped rod at one end thereof and releasably attachedto said U-shaped rod at the other end, the trolling means slidablyattached to the elongated rod of the release mechanism.

Patent No. 3 55,955 Dated Sept. 4, 1973 Inventor(s) Carmen. Saia It isoertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Claim 8, line 2, insert rigid before "rod" and delete "rigid" after"rod"; line 4, after "legs;" add a planar body of greater length thanwidth having Signed and seeledthis 29th day of October 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

MCCOY M. GIBSON JR. C. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents FORM PO-I0 5O (10-69) USCOMWDC 6037mm 1 w U.S. GOVERNMENTPRINTING OFFICE I969 0-366-354,

1. An oscillating trolling device comprising: a rigid, elongated bridleextending the lengthwise direction of the trolling device connectable toa trolling line, a planer body having openings along its midline andbeing disposed beneath the bridle, the end portions of said bridleextending through said openings and being loosely connected thereto,said openings being substantially larger than the cross-sectional areaof said end portions, for oscillation in a plane essentially transverseto the direction of pull of the trolling device through the water, meansfor connecting a hook line to the planer body at essentially the upperend thereof, ballast means secured to the trolling device near one endthereof, and release means slidably connecting a trolling line to thebridle, the trolling device adapted, when a predetermined pull isexerted on a hook line, to swing the planer body from a downwardly andforwardly inclined position to an upwardly and rearwardly inclinedposition as said trolling lines slides along said release means.
 2. Thetrolling device of claim 1 wherein the planer body is curved at theupper terminating edge thereof.
 3. The trolling device of claim 1wherein the bridle includes release means so that when a predeterminedpull is exerted on a trolling line, the planer body swings to anupwardly inclined position causing the trolling device and hook line toascend to the surface of the water.
 4. The trolling device of claim 1wherein the bridle is an elongated rod in the form of a canted letter UhavinG a base portion and wherein said end portions comprise integralextending legs with the legs thereof extending through openings alongthe midline of the planer body, and means loosely retaining the planerbody to the legs of the bridle.
 5. The trolling device of claim 4wherein the ballast means is secured to one leg of the bridle below thecenter of gravity of the device.
 6. The trolling device of claim 4wherein the release means comprises an elongated rod essentiallyparalleling the base portion of the U-shaped rod, the elongated rod ofthe release means pivotally attached to said U-shaped rod at one end andreleasably attached to said U-shaped rod at the other end, the trollingmeans attached to the elongated rod of the release means for slidablemovement therealong.
 7. The trolling device of claim 2 wherein theplaner body has upwardly curved side edges.
 8. An oscillating trollingdevice comprising: an elongated rod rigid in the form of a canted letterU having a base portion and integral extending legs; two openingstherein along a midline extending the length of the body for looselyreceiving the legs of the U-shaped rod therethrough, said openings beingsubstantially larger than the cross-sectional area of said legs so thatwhen the planer body is pulled through the water in a downwardly andforwardly inclined position, it is free to oscillate about the points ofpivotal connection to the bridle; means loosely retaining the planerbody to the legs of the rod; means connecting a hook line to the planerbody at the upper end thereof; ballast means secured to one leg of theU-shaped rod below the center of gravity of the device; and meansconnecting a trolling line to the rod for slidable movement along thebase portion of the elongated rod, the planer body (1) in trollingposition assuming a downwardly and forwardly inclined position causingthe planer to be drawn downwardly in the water to lower the fishing lureto a desired depth, and (2) in strike position wherein the weight of thefish is on the hook line assuming an upwardly and forwardly inclinedposition causing the trolling device and the lure to ascend to thesurface.
 9. The trolling device of claim 8 wherein the upper terminatingedges of the planer body are dished.
 10. The trolling device of claim 8including a release mechanism comprising an elongated rod essentiallyparalleling the base portion of the U-shaped rod, the elongated rod ofthe release means pivotally attached to said U-shaped rod at one endthereof and releasably attached to said U-shaped rod at the other end,the trolling means slidably attached to the elongated rod of the releasemechanism.